Shoulder guard

ABSTRACT

A semi-rigid protective shield device for athletes. The device includes a pair of opposingly formed and flexibly joined sections. Each section has an arcuate shoulder portion adapted to conformably embrace a shoulder and having front portions adapted to depend over the clavicular area and breast of the wearer and rear portions for depending over the shoulder blades. The rear portions have integral lateral radial extensions for embracing the rib cage and terminating forwardly thereof. Flexible structures on each of the lateral extensions for detachably and adjustably joining the same to the depending front portions. A shoulder cap is hingedly attached to the shoulder portion of each section. Finally, flange pocket forming structure is on the cap and the shoulder portion and is positioned so as to form a flange pocket for the cap to seat in when force is applied from the top or sides and restrain the cap from pressuring the athlete&#39;&#39;s shoulder while not restricting upward movement when force is delivered on the cap and shoulder portion.

United States Patent [191 Owl et al.

11] 3,867,726 Feb. 25, 1975 SHOULDER GUARD [75] Inventors: Laurance J. Owl, Hastings, Minn;

Jimmy H. Cody, Grand Prairie; Bill Kelley, Arlington, both of Tex.

[73] Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company,

East Rutherford, NJ.

[22] Filed: May 17, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 470,723

[52] US. Cl. 2/2 [51] Int. Cl A4ld 13/00 [58] Field of Search 2/2 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,163,463 6/1939 Kennedy 2/2 2,957,177 10/1960 Turner 2/2 3,088,115 5/1963 Groot 2/2 3,134,106 5/1964 Shaffer et al. 2/2 3,431,560 3/1969 Austin 2/2 3,528,106 9/1970 Austin 2/2 Lookabaugh 2/2 Primary Examiner-Alfred R. Guest Attorney, Agent, or FirmKane, Dalsimer, Kane, Sullivan and Kurucz [57] ABSTRACT A semi-rigid protective shield device for athletes. The device includes a pair of opposingly formed and flexibly joined sections. Each section has an arcuate shoulder'portion adapted to conformably embrace a shoulder and having front portions adapted to depend over the clavicular area and breast of the wearer and rear portions for depending over the shoulder blades. The rear portions have integral lateral radial extensions for embracing the rib cage and terminating forwardly thereof. Flexible structures on each of the lateral extensions for detachably and adjustably joining the same to the depending front portions. A shoulder cap is hingedly attached to the shoulder portion of each section. Finally, flange pocket forming structure is on the cap and the shoulder portion and is positioned so as to form a flange pocket for the cap to seat in when force is applied fromthe top or sides and restrain the cap from pressuring the athletes shoulder while not restricting upward movement when force is delivered on the cap and shoulder portion.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTH] FEBZ 5 i975 SHEEI 10F 3 PATENTEDFEBZSIBYFJ SHEET 3 [1F 3 1 SHOULDER GUARD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Protective .gear for athletessuch as footballplayers and hockey players include protective shoulder guards. In the past, a great variety of different configurations and designs have been employed for ensuring protection of the athlete s shoulder and chest area. Several of the more recent designs include those depicted in US ,Pat. Nos. 3,528,106, 3,431,560 and 2,430,502. The

specific shoulder pad designs as described in those references are great advantages in protecting the athlete, particularly the football player from shoulder injuries.

Naturally, further improvement is always desired from a safety standpoint and it is extremely advantageous when the wearer is protected in all aspects of physical contact including protection from danger of injury from portions of the protective equipment such as the shoulder guard parts. The above mentioned prior patents do describe protective structure in the shoulder guards themselves to assure that certain types of blows do not cause parts of the protective equipment to endanger the athlete. I

As stated above, further-improvements and modifications in this area are welcome in the art and would add significantly to the'safety features already present in the above discussed patents. One area of concern is in the danger of parts of the semi-rigid plastic portions of the protective shoulder guard being directed into portions of the wearers body to cause possible injury. This danger may be noted with particular reference to the hinged interengagement between the shoulder cap or epaulet and the protective shoulder body portion. The cap has a rim of plasticwhich could if not restrained be directed by an external force into the football or hockey players shoulder and deltoid area and cause potential injury or at least substantial discomfort. Consequently, structure on the shoulder pad which would restrain the movement of the cap with respect to the plastic body portion so that undesirable movement of this type cannot occur would be advantageous.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Withthe above thoughts in mind, it is among the primary objectives of the present invention to provide a shoulder guard which is designed to prevent the shoulder cap and the shoulder body portion of the shoulder pads which are made of plasticized semi-rigid or rigid material from coming down or resting upon the football or hockey players shoulder and deltoid area to cause discomfort and possible injury. The shoulder guard protective device is designed with the shoulder portion and the cap of plasticized rigid material which are hingedly interconnected with the use of a strengthened webbing connector which is sewn and riveted in place. The connector extends from underneath the shoulder portion, ties into the cap and doubles back over the top of the shoulder portion thereby interconnecting the cap with the shoulder portion. The flexible webbing material provides the appropriate motion therebetween. Additionally, the present design contemplates the use of a flange pocket structure to restrict the motion of the cap with respect to the shoulder portion so that movement of the cap is restricted from excessive engagement with the player's shoulder but movement in the upward direction is not unduly restricted when the cap is subjected to forces from different directions. The depicted means for the flange pocket structure is the use of a pair of strips of strengthened flexible webbing connecting the front and back sides of the shoulder portion with the front and back sides of the cap respectively. The connection is made in a fashion so as to form a flange pocket for the cap to seat in when force is applied from the top or sides so that the cap is not permitted to apply pressure tothe players shoulder. On the other hand, movement is not restricted in the upward direction when the force or blow is delivered on the cap and shoulder portion. In this manner, the cap is seated in a locking motion within the pocket formed by the webbing flange. In general, the ultimate objective is to prevent the plastic material of the shoulder pad from pressuring the player when subjected to external force and causing discomfort or possible injury to him.

In summary, a semi-rigid protective shield device for athletes is provided. The device includes a pair of opposingly formed and flexibly joined sections. Each section has an arcuate shoulder portion adapted to conformably embrace a shoulder and having front portions adapted to depend over the clavicular area and breast of the wearer and rear portions for depending over the shoulder bladesThe rear portions have integral lateral radial extensions for embracing the rib cage and terminating forwardly thereof. Flexible means is on each of the lateral extensions for detachably and adjustably joining the same to the depending front portions. A

shoulder cap is hingedly attached to the shoulder portion of each section. Finally, flange pocket forming means is on the cap and shoulder portion and is positioned so as to form a flanged pocket for the cap to seat in when force is applied from the top or sides and restrainthe cap from pressuring the athletes shoulder while not restricting upward movement when force is delivered on the cap and shoulder portion.

With the above objectives, among others, in mind, reference is had to the attached drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the shoulder guard of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation view thereof and showing the cap in the upper position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation view thereof showing the cap in the lower position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view thereof with the top flap removed; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view thereof taken through the plane of line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Shoulder guard 20 provides a protective device including a left section 21 and a right section 22 which are flexibly joined at the back by one or more straps 23. Rivets or other well known securing means are acceptable for attaching the straps 23 to sections 21 and 22 at appropriate points thereon. The shoulder guard 20 is secured to the wearer by means of appropriate lacing 24 as shown in FIG. 1.

Each section 21 and 22 is substantially U-shaped in vertical section so as to conformably embrace the shoulders of the wearer and provide a shield for the breast, rib cage and clavicular area in front of the wearer and for protection of the shoulder blades and rib area in the back.

While the front depending portions 25 and 26 of the sections 21 and 22 respectively, when associated as in FIG. 1, present a marginal contour defining a breast protector, the corresponding portions 27 and 28 in the rear have extending portions 29 and 30 respectively which are curved radially in slightly inclined planes around the body, embracing the rib cage on each side and under the arms, terminating in front of the body adjacent to the marginal edges 31 and 32 of the portions 25 and 26 respectively. Straps 33 detachably secure portions 29 and 30 to portions 25 and 26 with the assistance of suitable fastening means. The straps 33 are connected to members 29 and 30 in any convenient manner and terminate in a buckle 34 with a variable radius slot 35 adjacent its forward end. Slot 35 is slidably mountable on pin 36 extending from the appropriate portion 25 or 26. As shown, one portion of slot 35 is of greater radius than the head of pin 36 and another part of slot 35 is of lesser radius than the head of pin 36 so that the buckle 34 can be slidably engaged and interengaged with the pin 36 for fastening and unfastening straps 33. Naturally, other well known fastening means can be similarly employed to removably fasten straps 33 to portions 25 and 26.

The entire assembly is preferably formed of plastic material having suitable flexibility yet possessing sufficient rigidity to withstand shocks or substantial force. Thewrap-around feature provided by the radial extensions 29 and 30 obviously affords protection for the wearers rib cage without restricting body movements or the discomfort resulted from a sense of confinement.

The shoulder portion 37 of each of the sections 21 and 22 is arcuate in configuration. A shoulder cap or epaulet 38 is hingedly attached to shoulder portion 37 by means of a strengthened webbing connector 39 which is appropriately fastened. The lower leg 40 of webbing connector 39 is fastened by rivets or other appropriate means at its free end to the underside of shoulder portion 37 (not shown). Leg 40 then extends to the upper side of cap 38 and is doubled upon itself to form leg 41 of webbing connector 39. The overlapping portion of legs 40 and 41 of webbing connector 39 is riveted to the top of cap 38 by means of rivet 42. Leg .41 then extends into engagement with the upper surface of shoulder portion 37 and is appropriately affixed in position by means of rivets 43 in any desirable predetermined pattern. Any number of rivets 42 and rivets 43 may be employed as well as similar fastening means on the underside of shoulder portion 33 to appropriately fasten connector 39 in position.

Leg 41 in fixed position on the upper surface of shoulder 37 is then doubled back upon itself to form leg 44 for attachment to a shoulder flap 46. Certain of the rivets 43 can be positioned so as to pass through both legs 41 and 44 where they overlap to provide proper positioning of leg 44 for engagement with flap 46. Flap 46 is connected by rivets 45 to leg 44. Connector 39 is of a flexible material to permit hinged relative movement to a limited degree between shoulder portion 37, cap 38 and flap 46. In contrast, flap 46 and cap or epaulet 38 are of plastic material as is shoulder portion 37. Naturally, stitching or other appropriate conventional expedient may beemployed in place of the rivet for the interconnection between the elements as described above.

Flap 46 extends over cap 32 and is downwardly curved over the upper portions of the appropriate front member which is in adjacent relationship therewith. Each end of each flap 46 is flexibly anchored to the appropriate section 21 and 22 by straps 47 as shown in FIG. 1.

A pair of flexible strips 48 cooperate with shoulder portion 37 and cap 38 which are interconnected by connector 39 to form a flange pocket for protection of the wearer. Strips 48 are of strengthened webbing of a flexible nature and are connected to the front and back sides of the shoulder portion 37 respectively. As shown in FIG. 3, each strip 48 extends along the underside of shoulder portion 37 and is riveted in position by means of rivet 49. It then extends through slot 50 adjacent the rim of shoulder portion 37 onto the exterior edge surface of shoulder portion 37 and then under the rim 51 of cap 38 to the underside of cap 38. Strip 48 extends along the underside of cap 39 until it is passed through a slot 52 in cap 38 and onto the upper surface of cap 38 where it is riveted in position by means of rivet 53. A strip 48 is fastened in the above manner between the front of shoulder portion 37 and the front of cap 38. A second strip is fastened between the back of shoulder portion 37 and the back of cap 38 in somewhat parallel fashion. Connection in this manner provides a flange pocket for cap 38 to seat in when force is applied from the top or sides and not permitting it to come down with pressure on the wearers shoulder. In contrast, the pocket does not restrict movement to a degree in the upward direction when the force or blow is delivered on the' cap or shoulder portion within the limits defined by the hinged connection provided by connector 39. In this manner, the cap is seated in floating position within the webbing flange defined by the cooperating structure including strips 48.

Both the left and right sides of shoulder guard 20 are constructed in the same manner. Once again, appropriate connecting means other than rivets may be employed to attach strips 48 where necessary. Additionally, although two strips 48 are shown for each interengagement between cap and shoulder portion, any number of such strips can be employed depending upon space limitations and individual preferences. As shown in detail in FIG. 5, each strip 48 assists in forming a flanged pocket to restrain the rim of cap 38 from pressuring the wearers shoulder.

Both of the sections 21 and 22 as well as the epaulets or caps 32 are padded with a suitable material such as foam rubber, covered by a lining material. All edges of the members are provided with a cushion binding. The sections 21 and 22, the caps 38 and the flaps 46 are suitably reinforced by embossments.

Thus, the above discussed objectives, among others, of the present invention are effectively attained.

What is claimed is:

l. A semi-rigid protective shield device for athletes comprising:

a pair of opposingly formed and flexibly joined sections;

each section having an arcuate shoulder portion adapted to conformably embrace a shoulder and having front portions adapted to depend over the clavicular area and breast of the wearer and rear portions for depending over the shoulder blades;

the rear portions having integral lateral radial extensions for embracing the rib cage and terminating forwardly thereof; flexible means on each of said lateral extensions for detachably and adjustably joining the same to said depending front portions; a shoulder cap hingedly attached to the shoulder portion of each section; means hingedly connecting each shoulder cap to the respective shoulder portion of each section, and means on the cap and shoulder portion positioned so as to form a flange pocket for the edge of cap to seat in when force is applied from the top or sides and restrain the cap from pressuring the athletes shoulder while not restricting upward movement. 2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means for hingedly interconnecting the shoulder portion with the cap includes a strengthened webbing connector which is fixed in place on the underside of the shoulder portion, extends into fixed position on the top of the cap and then doubles back over the top of the shoulder portion into a final fixed position on the top thereof.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein the webbing connector is fixed in position with respect to the cap and shoulder portion by means of stitching and rivets.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the flange pocket forming means includes a pair of strips of spaced webbing with the strips of webbing connected between the front of the shoulder portion and the front of the cap and between the back of the shoulder portion and the back of the cap respectively.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 4 wherein the strips of webbing are fixed in position by means of rivets. 

1. A semi-rigid protective shield device for athletes comprising: a pair of opposingly formed and flexibly joined sections; each section having an arcuate shoulder portion adapted to conformably embrace a shoulder and having front portions adapted to depend over the clavicular area and breast of the wearer and rear portions for depending over the shoulder blades; the rear portions having integral lateral radial extensions for embracing the rib cage and terminating forwardly thereof; flexible means on each of said lateral extensions for detachably and adjustably joining the same to said depending front portions; a shoulder cap hingedly attached to the shoulder portion of each section; means hingedly connecting each shoulder cap to the respective shoulder portion of each section, and means on the cap and shoulder portion positioned so as to form a flange pocket for the edge of cap to seat in when force is applied from the top or sides and restrain the cap from pressuring the athlete''s shoulder while not restricting upward movement.
 2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means for hingedly interconnecting the shoulder portion with the cap includes a strengthened webbiNg connector which is fixed in place on the underside of the shoulder portion, extends into fixed position on the top of the cap and then doubles back over the top of the shoulder portion into a final fixed position on the top thereof.
 3. The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein the webbing connector is fixed in position with respect to the cap and shoulder portion by means of stitching and rivets.
 4. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the flange pocket forming means includes a pair of strips of spaced webbing with the strips of webbing connected between the front of the shoulder portion and the front of the cap and between the back of the shoulder portion and the back of the cap respectively.
 5. The invention in accordance with claim 4 wherein the strips of webbing are fixed in position by means of rivets. 